Jaguars’ Dante Fowler, No. 3 pick, likely out for season

Updated 5:08 pm, Friday, May 8, 2015

Dante Fowler Jr. didn’t miss a game in three years of college, but the Florida alum probably will miss his entire rookie year in the NFL.

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defensive end, the third overall pick in last week’s NFL draft, is likely out for the season after tearing a knee ligament during his first practice.

Fowler tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during rookie minicamp Friday. ESPN first reported the extent of the injury.

The injury looked serious live and appeared even worse on replays. Tests revealed the extent of the damage.

Fowler’s knee buckled during an 11-on-11 drill as he engaged right tackle Watts Dantzler. Fowler dropped to the ground, grabbed his leg as he rolled from side to side and eventually got helped off the field. He was carted to the locker room.

“I went to apologize to him and he was like, 'You’re good, man. It’s just football,’” Dantzler said.

Fowler was the first non-quarterback selected last week, taken by the Jaguars after quarterbacks Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay) and Marcus Mariota (Tennessee).

The Jaguars were counting on Fowler to be a centerpiece of the defense for years. They had expected him to be a Day 1 starter, meaning he would replace 33-year-old Chris Clemons.

Manziel a backup: Johnny Manziel’s climb back might be steeper than he realized.

The Browns aren’t making any promises to Manziel, who recently spent 10 weeks in substance-abuse rehab following a disappointing rookie season. Head coach Mike Pettine said Friday that the team is taking things slowly with Manziel and that Josh McCown will enter training camp as the presumptive starter this season.

The Browns want Manziel to focus on getting himself well, and they don’t want to put any other pressure on him. Manziel was discharged from rehab April 11.

Pryor in Cincy: Former Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor is attending Cincinnati’s rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis.

Pryor has a connection with Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, who was the Raiders’ head coach in 2011 when they took him in the supplemental draft. Pryor spent three years in Oakland and started 16 games.

Briefly: Dallas defensive lineman Josh Brent is retiring for the second time since the drunken-driving crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown and derailed his career. ... New England signed eight of its draft picks and seven rookie free agents, including former Cal receiver Chris Harper. ... Tennessee waived tight end Brett Brackett.